Punjab: No teacher in smart school worth Rs 3.5 crore
Punjab: The new academic session is set to begin in April, but the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Smart School near Maqsudan bypass remains shut due to alleged government inaction. Built on an acre of land, the school, equipped with modern facilities, is ready in most respects but is yet to get approvals or classroom infrastructure. According to information, the proposal to build a state-of-the-art school at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore was approved during the Congress regime and work began in September 2021. Three years later, the school is ready with 15 classrooms, a computer lab, an auditorium and a spacious kitchen for mid-day meals. However, it seems that starting classes in the school is not a priority for the district administration or the state government, leaving its future uncertain.
Sources reveal that unless the government starts allocating teachers and the necessary classroom infrastructure by the end of the month, the school may not start functioning from the coming academic year. Sources said the education department is yet to decide whether the school will be for boys or girls only or as a co-educational institution, though initial plans suggest that it will impart education to students from Class VI to XII. However, there is no official confirmation in this regard yet. Located near Maqsudan bypass, this is the first school in the city to be directly connected to the national highway. Thus, the school has the potential to benefit families living nearby, especially those from economically weaker sections. However, its frequent closure has raised concerns among locals and education activists.
Fly Udaan Zindagi Ki Trust president Pankaj Mehta has urged the authorities to take swift action. While submitting a memorandum to the Jalandhar deputy commissioner recently, he said, “The school will impart education not only to the colony but also to the nearby areas. It will especially benefit students from below poverty line (BPL) families and economically weaker sections. We urge the government to inaugurate the school before the start of the new academic session in April.” District Education Officer (DEO) for secondary education Gurinderjit Kaur said a letter has been sent to higher authorities in this regard. “Since the construction of the school has been completed, we hope action will be taken to start the academic session here this year,” she said.
